The Kalashnikov group of companies has started developing a new light machine gun ordered by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The general director of the concern Dmitry Tarasov told RIA Novosti about this.

The new weapon will be created on the basis of the experience gained during the military operation of an experimental batch of RPK-16 light machine guns, including their combat use. As noted by Tarasov, during the tests, the Ministry of Defense was able to clarify its requirements for this type of weapon.

"And if earlier work on the RPK-16 was carried out by the concern on its own initiative, now we are developing a light machine gun already within the framework of the state defense order," he added.

It is expected that a prototype of a new machine gun called RPL-20 will be presented this year at the Army-2020 forum. As the head of the Kalashnikov concern noted, work on the RPL-20 predecessor, the RPK-16 machine gun, allowed the arms company to acquire new competencies and convince the state customer of the potential of its designers.

The fact that in Russia this year will begin the development of a new light machine gun based on the RPK-16, at the beginning of July, said a source to RIA Novosti in the Russian military-industrial complex. The experience of operating the RPK-16 in various climatic zones made it possible to formulate a number of comments and suggestions. They will be implemented already in the new machine gun, work on which will begin this year.

According to the military observer, retired colonel Viktor Barantz, the RPL-20 should surpass its predecessor in key parameters.

“It should have more fire damage and a more effective aim. It is possible that the Ministry of Defense asked the designers to make weapons equally effective in different climatic conditions. Maybe it will be adapted to a new combat vehicle so that helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles can be attacked, or this machine gun should be more compact for the GRU special forces. Now it is difficult to imagine why the Ministry of Defense needs a new machine gun, ”the expert said in an interview with RT.

Speaking about the possible timing of the development of this weapon, the expert explained that this will depend on how complex the terms of reference given to the designers of the Ministry of Defense.

Concern Kalashnikov is one of the world's best design schools, which possesses vast experience and the necessary technologies. Therefore, we can assume that if the Ministry of Defense approves the preliminary project, then prototypes can be created in a year, ”Viktor Baranets believes.

A similar point of view is shared by military expert Yuri Knutov. In his opinion, the future machine gun should have high mobility and, at the same time, serious firepower.

“Earlier it took 2-3 years to develop a prototype. Considering that today Russia has quite serious developments in this area, a school has been created that makes it possible to create weapons much more efficiently, and there is 3D modeling, which makes it possible to reduce the time by 3-5 times, then in case of correct concentration of resources, such weapons can be created in year, "the expert noted in the commentary to RT.

Mobile weapon

Recall that the contract for serial deliveries of the new RPK-16 light machine gun was signed between the Kalashnikov Group of Companies and the Russian Ministry of Defense in February 2018. For the first time, the weapon was presented to the general public at the Army-2016 forum.

As previously reported in the Kalashnikov concern, the RPK-16 has a 5.45 mm caliber, the weapon was created taking into account the experience of modern armed conflicts. The RPK-16 can be used both as a light machine gun and as an assault rifle.

The machine gun is equipped with a four-position telescopic butt, which can be folded to the left, and a replaceable barrel block, which allows a barrel length from 415 to 580 mm to be installed.

  • Servicemen shoot an infantry Kalashnikov "Pecheneg" machine gun during special tactical exercises of the special forces unit of the Southern Military District at the Molkino training ground in the Krasnodar Territory
  • RIA News
  • © Vitaly Timkiv

The machine gun was developed as a development of a new version of the AK-12 Kalashnikov assault rifle. In contrast to this weapon, the machine gun allows for a denser fire and provides a more effective firing range. RPK-16 allows you to shoot from a support or from a hand.

The ability to change the barrel is an important difference between machine guns of this type and machine guns, according to the manufacturer's website. This allows you to extend the life of the weapon, since it is the barrel that breaks down most often. In addition, it becomes possible to easily adapt weapons to specific battle conditions. So, a short barrel is optimal for use by special forces in urban areas, and a long barrel is optimal for warfare on the plain. In this case, changing the barrel takes only a few minutes and is carried out with incomplete disassembly of the weapon.

Due to the presence of special rails, the RPK-16 can be equipped with a modern day or night sight, as well as a "silencer".

The mass of this machine gun for the army and special services is about 4.5 kg, the magazine capacity is up to 95 rounds, enclosed in drums specially created for the RPK-16. In addition, magazines for 30 and 45 rounds compatible with the Kalashnikov assault rifle can be used.

Experimental military operation of the RPK-16 machine gun began in February 2019, the weapon came to the disposal of specialists of the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School (MosVOKU).

The tests were completed by the summer of 2019, at the same time the management of the Kalashnikov concern announced its readiness to start serial production.

Speaking about the differences between a light machine gun and a machine gun, Viktor Baranets explained that a machine gun is necessary for intensive firing, primarily in terms of manpower attacking force.

“In combat, the machine gunner covers the movement of the unit. The same RPL-20, the development of which begins this year, may be intended for paratroopers, ”the expert added.

As Yuri Knutov noted in turn, the light machine gun is a weapon of mobile army units.

“A light machine gun and an assault rifle weigh almost the same, the only difference is that the machine guns have a longer range,” the expert explained.

Far horizon

Weapons created by the Kalashnikov designers are traditionally highly valued in the world market. The legendary AK-47 assault rifle is even included in the Guinness Book of Records as the most common weapon on the planet.

At the same time, the Russian concern regularly updates the line of manufactured weapons, new models also have a high export potential. Thus, the AK-12 assault rifle, adopted at the end of 2018 by the Russian army, is already being exported to neighboring countries. This was announced on August 20 by the general director of the Kalashnikov concern Dmitry Tarasov.

  • Management building of the Kalashnikov concern in Izhevsk
  • © Vyacheslav Bukharov / Wikipedia

The AK-308 assault rifle was developed especially for deliveries abroad. This was previously announced in an interview with RT by the chief designer of the Kalashnikov concern, Sergei Urzhumtsev. The design of the machine provides for the possibility of using a NATO rifle cartridge, according to experts, the weapon can interest the armies of the countries of the Middle East and Southeast Asia. 

According to experts, all the weapons produced by the Kalashnikov concern are attractive to potential foreign buyers. The RPL-20 machine gun will not be an exception, Viktor Baranets believes.

“Russian automatic small arms are the best in the world, which is recognized by other countries. If the RPL-20 passes all the tests, it will undoubtedly have the same export potential as the Kalashnikov assault rifles, the expert summed up.